UPSC aspirants intensify protests; no discrimination, says Govt

The government on Friday sought to assure the civil services aspirants who have been protesting against Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Zee Media Bureau/Deepak Nagpal

New Delhi: The government on Friday sought to assure the civil services aspirants who have been protesting against Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Following violent protests in Delhi on Thursday evening, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh Friday morning met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue.

Following the talks, Singh sought to assure the students and said that the government was taking the matter seriously.

The students won`t be discriminated against on the basis of language, Singh said.

“There won`t be any injustice, especially on the basis on language. However, students must also show some patience,” the minister told reporters.

“The government has sympathy and also has the clarity that there shouldn`t be any injustice with the students,” he added.

According to Singh, the government was waiting for a report on the matter and will take decision only for the good of students.

"I assure you that within one week we have sought the report of the Committee... Today I have again told the Committee to give the report within one week. As the report comes, further action will follow," the minister told Rajya Sabha.

Also today, the students tried to march towards Parliament to press for their demand of scrapping the CSAT, but were stopped midway by the police and taken into preventive custody.

The protesters were stopped outside Central Secretariat Metro Station from where they were taken to Parliament Street Police Station.

The protests, however, continued in North Delhi`s Mukherjee Nagar.

Inside Parliament too, the issue led to heated exchanges and protests leading to adjournment of the Rajya Sabha.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha disrupted over UPSC exam row

Congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the Congress was ready to fight for UPSC aspirants both inside and outside Parliament.

The aspirants have been alleging bias against those from the Hindi background.

On Thursday evening, the Delhi Police arrested more than 20 students after violence over the UPSC row.

The UPSC aspirants clashed with police, burning vehicles, including a police jeep, and pelting stones near the main highway by-pass road in North Delhi`s Burari area.

"A police jeep was set on fire. One roadways bus was partially burnt in the incident along with some bikes and cars. Police used force to disperse them from main roads," Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Goel said, adding, some policemen were injured in the incident.

The protests erupted yesterday after the UPSC began sending out admit cards for the civil services preliminary examinations.

The students late night said they would continue their protests until their demands are met.

The aspirants say the UPSC must change the CSAT pattern so that it provides level-playing field to those hailing from the rural areas.

A three-member committee is already examining the demands of the UPSC aspirants.

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